For sale: barn alive with the sound of music

This beautiful barn was converted in the mid -1970s with music in mind and, in a remarkable twist of fate, all subsequent owners have been musicians who have delighted in the splendid acoustics, space for concerts and the inspirational setting.

The hall/living space with piano. There is an organ in the minstrels gallery above.

The latest owners, Richard and Sarah Warnes, have added to the melodious offering by installing a 996 pipe organ, which they are happy to leave for whoever buys their much-loved home. The property is in the hamlet of Thornthwaite, near Pateley Bridge, and they bought it 34 years ago after being bowled over by the building.

It won a Civic Trust Award after being turned into a home by Professor John Ramsay and his wife, Chris, who created a music hall/living space with minstrels gallery above. The Ramsay family played, piano, cello, violin and double bass and once accommodated a 14-piece orchestra in the barn. They later sold it to the head of the Yehudi Menuhin School of Music.

“It was empty for months then he would bring students up and the house would be filled with music,” says Mrs Warnes, a concert pianist and organist who spotted the barn for sale in The Yorkshire Post.

“The advert said ‘converted to music’ and when we viewed the property we fell in love with immediately. It has idyllic Nidderdale views and a sense of peace.”

The organ has 996 pipes concealed in the attic space. The ones on show are purely decorative.

Her grand piano is on the ground floor and her organ is on the gallery above with its 996 pipes concealed in the attic space. She and a friend sourced it from a church in Rochdale and it took six weeks to install.

“We had to change the shape of the roof and put an RSJ in to support the weight,” she says.

She, her husband and children have staged many concerts over the years and have catered for up to 70 guests.

The property has an open-plan dining kitchen with larder, a garden room, a spectacular hall/living space, sitting room, study and cloakroom. The gallery above extends the full length of the hall and links to the master bedroom with en-suite, three further bedrooms and a house bathroom. Outside, there is a garden, paddock, orchard, outbuilding and workshop.

The property has a garage, workshop, outbuilding, paddock and orchard.

Mr and Mrs Warnes are selling to downsize.

She says: “It has been a wonderful family family home and there will be tears when we go. It would lovely to sell to someone musical.”